“A greeting that not only gives great pleasure but illuminates our lives – like a message in a bottle”—Robert McCrum, writer and editor

“Ten Poems about Journeys” is a title in the “Instead of a Card” series, based on the idea that sending a greeting card is a lovely gesture, and sending a booklet of poetry an even more meaningful one.

This mini-anthology is a celebration of the rich variety of ways in which we get ourselves from A to B. A long-distance walk, a bike ride, a boat trip—all are brought to life here in language that captures the thrill of being en route.

We meet cyclists pedaling with panniers around eastern France. Then there’s a rowdy train journey from Barrow to Sheffield; the raucous passengers relish the train’s “relentless pressing on.” Sheenagh Pugh’s poem wonders what might happen if a road had a mind of its own. Then again:

Who wants to know a story’s end, or where a road will go?

from “What if this road” by Sheenagh Pugh

Whether you’re a seasoned explorer or an armchair traveller, these poems offer the delight and excitement of being on the way to somewhere else.

Each pamphlet is gorgeous both inside and out, beautifully produced with a cardstock cover, Ex Libris bookplate, and a bookmark gift enclosure with space for an inscription to the recipient.

With a cover created by a leading contemporary artist and poems hand-picked to speak to every kind of reader, each “Instead of a Card” title offers a richly rewarding reading journey. Produced using biodegradable and sustainable materials.

Poems by Jean Atkin, Jo Bell, Geoffrey Chaucer, David Constantine, John Foggin, Norman MacCaig, Michael McCarthy, Kim Moore, Sheenagh Pugh, and Rabindranath Tagore.

Dimensions 5.5" x 8.25"; 20 pages